Automatic knob lock



Aug. 9, 1949. N. MuLsow AUTOMATIC KNOB. Lcx

Filed oat. 18, 1945 Patented Aug. 9, 1949 AUTOMATIC KNOB LOCK NelsonMulsow, Marlin, Tex., assigner of onefourth to Walter B. Denton andone-fourth to Joe Schmid, both of Marlin, Tex.

Application Qctober 18, 1945, Serial No. 623,140 4 Claims. (C1. 292-349)which may be instantly removed from the shank when required.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing desoription and the accompanying illustrative; drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved door knob,

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of a control member,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modification, and

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of a tumbler.

In the above drawings as well as in the specication to follow, the samecharacters of reference indicate the same parts throughout.

While one embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the abovereferred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely forthe purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction maybe resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the inventionmay be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances whichmay arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention ofmy device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appendedclaims. And while I have stated the primary eld of utility of myinvention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any othercapacity wherein it may be found applicable.

My invention consists of a door knob I0, provided with a tubular shankIl, provided with an outer end wall I2, and a wall I4, adjacent itsinner end I5, said end walls being provided with square openings i6 andIl, to receive a latch operating shank I8.

The wall i4, is provided with an inwardly extending housing |9, againstthe end 20, of which seats the head 2|, of a rod 22, the end 23, thereofbeing supported in a bore 24, in said wall I2, and is preferably spotwelded thereto as indicated at 25. Threaded on the pin 22, is a seriesof tumblers 26, 27, etc. by means of bores 28, adjacent the upper ends29, of the tumblers and all of which bores align with one another. Eachtumbler disk 26, 2l, etc. are provided with centrally disposed squareapertures 30, which align with the openings i6 and I1, and which thesaid shank is adapted to extend through. These apertures 30, areslightly larger in diameter than is the shank I8, whereby the tumblersmay seat inciined relative to the shank. In order to hold the tumblersin said inclined position I provide a spring 3|, coiled around the innerend 32, of rod or pin 22, and mostly within the housing I9. The end ofthe spring 3|, however, projects beyond the housing and has fixedthereto a washer 34, which is forced against the inner end tumbler 21,by the spring and causing the balance of the tumblers to bear againstone another, which in turn causes the upper and lower edges 35 and 36,of the tumblers to bite against the upper and lower surfaces 3l and 38,of the shank I8, whereby no amount of pulling against the knob I0, willrelease it from the shank I8, as the harder the pull the harder the biteand due to the further fact that the lower notched edges 39, of thetumblers are held within their proper positions by means of the upturnedends 4i] and 4|, of a keeper 42, therefor. This keeper is locateddiametrically opposite the rod 22, and is provided with a longitudinalrib 43, over which the notched edges of the tumblers seat.

The said tumblers have sufficient play upon said keeper and also uponthe rod 22, in order that when it is desired to remove the knob Ill,from its shank I8, a nail or the like (not shown) may be projectedthrough the apertures 44, in the upper wall 45, of shank I I, and thetumblers moved therewith to vertical positions, relieving the bite ofthe tumblers upon the shank I8, whereby the knob may readily bewithdrawn therefrom.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings I show a modification of the abovedescribed device and in which I provide a common shank 46, to which ahollow knob 41, is secured and from the forward lower end 48. thereofthere inclines an arm 49, the end 5, of which approximately reaches theperipheral portion of the knob and is provided with an upturned terminal5|', upon which the cut-out end 52, of the lower portion 54, of asubstantially diamond-shaped tumbler 59, seats. This tumbler is providedwith a square opening 55, in its mid portion 56, to receive a shank 46.The upper end 58, of the tumbler is inclined forwardly and faces theopening 60, in the rear wall El, of the knob 41, and terminates in aright angular pin 62, which is projected through one end B3, of a coilspring 64, compressed between said pin 62 and a teat 65, formed on theinner surface 66, of the outer wall B1, of said knob 41. In this casethe tumbler v59, normally bites upon the shank 4 6, holding? theknob'secured to the shank and it is released in the same manner as thatrelated for the first form of the invention.;y The terminals 68 and 69,of both shanks IQ and* 51, are rounded in order to be easily projected"through the respective openingthrough which they must pass.

There are a number of distinct advantages of my knob over other forms ofknobs, oneis vthat it may be applied instantly, it-may berem'ovedfromits shank almost as fast, it requires no screws or attaching means otherthan self-contained, it may be placed'- on a shank or removed therefrombyA any 'novice and v will stay when put. Aridane primaryuobject'of thisinvention is that it is`"sel`f-adjuting relative to any door lock usingafsh'a'nk oro'peratin'g a spring or other latch, eliminating screw holesin the shanksand'obviatingthefuspf spacer washers on the shanksand'lprvdinga tight lit. l

I t isthoughtthatpesons skilled in the artto which the invention relateswill be able to obtain a'fclear understanding vof the invention afterconsideringthedescription in connection with the drawings. Therefore; amore Ieng'thydescription is regarded as unifi'ecessary.v

Changes in shape', size and rearrangement of details and parts such asAcome-within the purview of theinvention claimedmay be resorted to,` inactual practice, if desired.

Havingnow described my invention that which fclaim as new and desireltopicre by'Letters Patent is:

1.In combination with a door latch spindle anda door knob detachablysupported thereon, a cylindrical body on said door knob having oppositeclosed ends provided with aligned spindlereceiving apertures, a'guidepin-between saidbody ends disposed in parallel spaced relation to saidspindle, aseries of apertured tumblers slidably supported on said guidepin beingrformed with central spindle-receiving apertures of v slightlylarger diameter than the diameter of said spindle, a controlmemberengageable with the peripheral edges of said tumbleraand means fornormally holding said tumblersV in angular relation to said spindle-forlocking said door knob on said latch spindle.

2. In combination with a door latch spindle and a door knob detachablysupported thereon, a cylindrical body on said door knob having oppositeclosed ends provided with aligned spindlereceiving apertures, a guidepin between said body ends disposed in parallel spaced relation to saidspindle, a series of apertured tumblers slidably supportedonsaidguide'pin being formed with central spindle-receiving apertures ofslightly larger diameter than the diameter of said spindle, saidtumblers being formed with peripheral notches, a control memberengageable with the peripheral notches in said tumblers, and yielding-Ym'eans'within'the knob engageable with an adjacent end ltumbler foryieldingly holding said tumblers in angular gripping relation to saidspindle'fo' locking-said door knob on said latch spindle.v

3. The subject matter as claimed in claim 2, and said last-mentionedmeans comprising a coil spring encirelng 1the end o`f`said guide pinlwithin the knob and enga'g'abl'e'withaii adjacent end 'tumbler for'resilientlyurging and holding said tumblers in" angular'y grippingrelation' to` said spindle for locking said doo'knob on said latchspindle.;

4.. The subjectmatter'a's claimed in" claim 2, said last-mentionedmeansrincluding a coil spring encireling theend:o fsaid guide pin withinthe knob and engageable with an adjacent end tunibler for resilientlyurg'ir'igaifdhld'i'ngv Asaid tum'- blersin angular gripping relation't'sai'dspin'dl'e for lockingI said door knob on saidd latch spindle, andsaid body having opening through its side adjacent its end'v remotelfrom the knob th'rougl'i which an `implement may be insertedu to engagethe tumblers and move them againstthe effort of the'spring; to release`them' from binding engagement With the spindle.

NELSON MULSOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file-oithis patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Number, Name Date 556,5'(v N QRCKMafl. 17, 1896 '708;336- Fletcher Sept. 2, 1902 936,441.1 Fllal'lklIP-iOCI". 12, 1909 2,'1794r1 Webb'et all'. NOV. 7, 1939

